FSH was founded by two orthopedic surgeons, Alan H. Pierrot, MD and Thomas Thaxter, MD, who had a vision of improving healthcare. Originally named Fresno Surgery Center (FSC), the facility opened as an outpatient surgery center in 1984. Within the first year, FSC was in the top 10 percent of all freestanding outpatient surgery centers in the nation, based on the number of patients served. The center’s approach to patient service was also unique. The rare combination of compassion, hospitality and surgical excellence continues to be our distinguishing factor.

We were the first facility in the United States to provide elective surgery and post-surgical care in a non-hospital setting. Overwhelming popularity among patients, surgeons and staff established FSC as the leader in the nationwide trend toward elective surgery facilities. In fact, we have consistently been recognized as a top performer both in the state of California and nationally.

In 1988, FSC was designated by the California State Legislature as the first participant in a pilot project and opened our post-surgical recovery care center. This expanded our scope of service to include overnight post-surgical care, the first facility in the nation to do so in a non-hospital setting.

To prepare for this transition, we worked with leading restaurants and hotels, like the Ritz Carlton, to develop our signature brand of patient service. The impact of this is still seen in our hospital today. Each private inpatient suite is equipped with hotel-like amenities and showcases unique artwork from regional artists. Patients are also treated to restaurant-quality meals prepared by culinary school-trained chefs. What’s more, our staff is trained in hospitality service techniques to ensure our patients receive high-caliber service during their stay in our hospital.

In 1993, we sought to become a licensed acute-care hospital. Though we still admit only surgical patients, this hospital licensure enables us to serve inpatients (including Medicare patients) without restrictions on the length of their recovery stay.

In 2005, Fresno Surgery Center earned the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval, which is considered the gold standard in health care and is an internationally recognized symbol of quality. We continue to hold that designation today.

Fresno Surgery Center was renamed Fresno Surgical Hospital in 2006. This change more appropriately reflected the surgical services provided and distinguished the facility as a licensed acute care hospital rather than as an ambulatory surgery center.